Scottish football has never been a level playing field, but there is no doubting that, in recent seasons, the slope has become more pronounced. As recently as 1984, Dundee United were European Cup semi-finalists, while a year earlier Aberdeen defeated current Champions League holders Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners Cup final.
But the new firm no longer pose even a tangible threat to the Old Firm, not least Rangers who stand at the summit of the Scottish game with title flag in hand after claiming the trophy by a massive 21-point margin last season.
Celtic too, are flagging, but in a negative manner as they seek to keep their Glasgow rivals in sight, while the rest take turns in standing on each others shoulders at the bottom of the pile. It is a depressing picture. The only relevant questions ahead of the new season are how close Celtic, with Martin O'Neill now at the Parkhead helm, can get to Rangers, and in turn how the Ibrox club fare in Europe.
The optimism generated by John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish's arrival at Parkhead a year ago with record buy Eyal Berkovic has vanished and cynicism has set in. O'Neill has not promised overnight success and the Celtic supporters perhaps finally recognise their team's problems cannot be solved in an instant. Progress is probably the watchword of their season.
Rangers, though, have wider horizons. Last season they finally reached the first group stages of the Champions League and, with expectations raised, will be expected to at least repeat that feat this year. The gulf between dominating Scotland and making an impression on Europe is a huge one and could yet frustrate Dick Advocaat. Michael Mols finding full fitness is paramount, but may not be enough.
That no team outside the Old Firm will ever win the Scottish Premier League title again is taken as read. Hearts have bought nobody this summer, but are still likely to finish third because no one else has splashed out either.
In what amounts to an admission that some unpredictability is required, the Scottish Premier League have introduced a split structure next season of two mini-leagues for the final five games. It sounds complicated but the sad truth is the title could already be sealed by then. Relegation may be a more intriguing affair, but only if the team topping Division One meets SPL stadia criteria.
Rangers and Celtic will always top the bill, but perhaps the season's best story will originate in Dundee where Ivano Bonetti is carrying out drastic surgery on a club which was actually in reasonable health. Aberdeen too are one to watch, though not, perhaps, if you support them, while off the field the money problems across the top flight are likely to make for unwelcome headlines.
How long the Scottish Premier League can survive before Rangers and Celtic leave it behind - last season saw the first hint of that being feasible - remains to be seen. Perhaps the message should simply be enjoy it while you can.
Meanwhile, Advocaat last night revealed captain Lorenzo Amoruso has rejected a substantial pay-rise to help the Ibrox club go gunning for European glory.
The Rangers captain, who has been included in the squad to face St Johnstone just weeks after a major ankle operation, was on the verge of joining Sunderland during the summer. But now, after failing to agree personal terms with the Wearsiders, the Italian wants to fight for his place in the Rangers line-up despite the capture of Dutch international Bert Konterman.
And Advocaat has praised Amoruso for his decision to put Rangers before a pot of gold. "He got an offer from Sunderland which was far more than he had here, but he refused to go," said Advocaat.
"He said that he was a Rangers player and he wanted to stay. That was his decision. That says enough about him. Money is not always the key."
Amoruso is determined to stake his claim for a place in the first team as he comes under pressure from newcomers. "I believe in myself and this club. My dream is to go far in Europe with this club because, when you start to build something good, you want to see the finish."
